It’s happening! The Holidays are upon us, and once again I’m dredging up this post so we can have an honest discussion about getting a puppy for Christmas.
Beautiful memories, kids, gifts, and…giant puppy feet come to mind!!! We’ve all seen the tear-filled videos of children learning that their big present that year was a dog. It’s beautiful and warms the heart.
For the solid majority of people, this is a really bad decision. Sorry, I’m going to be that person. I have to be Frank. Not Frank Abignail, but “frank” as in…we need to have a serious chat.
How do I convince my spouse to get a puppy?
Should I give a puppy as a Christmas gift?
Are my kids ready to have a puppy?
How can I surprise my kids with a puppy on Christmas?
We have so many things to discuss. I promise to make it fun, though!
Is Getting a Puppy for Christmas a Good Idea?
I could write an entire blog on all the amazing and beautiful things that happen when you bring a cute Dane puppy into your home. Of course, at Hello Danes we focus on giant breed dogs, but ALL puppies are cute. So this blog is for everybody!
If you haven’t caught wind yet of my opinion on this one, here goes.
If you think you want or need a Christmas puppy, chances are that you probably don’t need one.
Hold the FORT! What are we saying here?
Sorry, not sorry, this stuff just has to be said. If you think it’s a good idea to stuff a brand-new puppy into a box and let children squeal and scream at it with excitement, think again.
If you are considering getting a new pet for Christmas, ask yourself the following questions:
After Christmas/New Years is over, do you still have time for this dog?
How angry will you be if the heirloom rug in your living room is peed on?
How much drool are you willing to wipe off of your clothes and walls?
Can you afford a veterinary emergency of $2500 or more, immediately?
Do you know how to train a puppy? Train it, properly and thoroughly?
Are you willing to accept that even at 45 lbs a giant breed puppy is still VERY MUCH a baby and will get up in the middle of the night?
Do you have other dogs in the home who are well cared for, well trained, and accepting of a new dog?
If the puppy chews on the remote and shreds up the couch, could that lead to divorce?
Can you pay for the vet bills, including emergent ones?
Is your partner on board?
I say all of this with a bit of humor, but so much of it is true.
Christmas puppies are traditionally a HUGE problem.
Once you have your moment and get your viral video of the kids squealing and hugging your now terrified puppy in a box, are you prepared for what happens next?
(Hint: you’ll have a hefty, confused, full-of-poop over-tired gremlin with needles for teeth terrorizing your peaceful Christmas house).
How Shelters & Rescues are Affected by Christmas Puppies
Every year rescues, shelters and breeders notice an increase in demand for puppies and dogs during the Holidays. People adopt and shop during this time more than any other.
This is not a coincidence; you aren’t the only person ever to have the brilliant idea of giving a dog as a gift.
The problem? MANY of those dogs end up returned or worse, surrendered. Many rescues suspend adoptions until the New Year, as a means to prevent people from making poor gifting decisions.
To meet demand, unethical breeders ramp up ‘production’ and create litters full of puppies from parents with questionable genetics. These dogs often end up with health and temperament problems that make them difficult if not impossible for the average dog owner to handle.
Know that you may have to be on a waitlist to get a quality Dane and that any breeder with Danes magically available and ready to go at Christmas may actually be a scam or at best, unethical (Read our Breeder Scams Blog Here).
Puppy-proof the house. The last thing you’ll want to do is to haul your new Christmas puppy into the ER on day one because he found and swallowed a glass ornament, three legos, and a cooked turkey bone.
If you plan to give a Great Dane puppy as a gift, do you really, truly think it’s the best idea?
Great Dane puppies are adorable and can turn into amazing dogs, but not without a lot of work. Socializing and training a puppy properly takes time, dedication, and desire.
Lacking that desire, it can be very difficult for a new Dane owner to get past some of the more common and frustrating Dane puppy behaviors (biting comes to mind…oh the biting!!!).
Try these ideas instead of getting a Christmas Puppy:
Place your deposit with an ethical breeder and then have your people unwrap a photo, a leash & collar, a t-shirt, or a camera with a video of the puppy on it.
Give a coupon that says ‘this coupon is good for one Great Dane‘. After they open it, share with your people how you will shop for an ethical breeder or find a rescue dog to bring into your home, and do the whole thing as a family.
Have your family make a donation or volunteer for a Great Dane rescue. Be a ‘secret Santa’ to a rescue Dane. Volunteer to foster and bring one home that way!
Decorate the house with all of the things needed for a Great Dane: a huge bag of food, a large bed, and some big Dane-sized toys, and see how long it takes your family to notice. Once they do, show them a photo of the puppies from the ethical breeder you are working with, or the rescue Dane that you think would be a wonderful fit.
Basic idea here, DON’T GET SCAMMED, and don’t be ‘that person’ that realizes somewhere in the Spring that the Christmas puppy was a huge mistake.
We are here for you and we are here for the Danes!
If you’re in the market for a Great Dane puppy, it’s crucial to be informed about the Great Dane breeder scam! Every week, we hear from people who have fallen victim to these scams or are worried they have been targeted. We know a LOT about this topic and we’re here to equip you with the information you need to safeguard yourself.
Bringing home a new puppy should be a positive experience, not one resulting in financial loss and no puppy at all.
Here is how the puppy scam works:
There are hundreds of people out there who arepretending to be Great Dane breeders. In this common and extremely fraudulent ploy, they will show you cute photos of Great Dane puppies that are for sale.
These scammers will say anything they have to convince you that they have an adorable puppy for you.
They will take your deposit and then you’ll never hear from them again.
If you want to avoid falling victim to this, read on. I’ve updated this post in December 2023 with more information!
In this post:
How common the Great Dane breeder scam is
How to spot scam breeders and fake puppy brokers
What to do if a fake breeder took your money
How to find a real Great Dane breeder
How Puppy Scams Work
Puppy scams typically operate by preying on the emotions and desires of prospective pet owners.
Scammers create fake online advertisements or entire websites featuring adorable puppies, often popular or sought-after breeds like Great Danes, at unbelievably low prices. These fraudulent breeders may use stolen photos from legitimate breeders or other sources to create an illusion of credibility.
Once a potential buyer expresses interest, the scammer establishes contact, often through email or social messaging platforms. They may employ persuasive and urgent language to encourage quick decisions, emphasizing limited availability or exceptional discounts.
Unfortunately, once the payment is made, the scammer disappears, leaving the unsuspecting buyer without a puppy or any means of recourse.
How to Spot a Great Dane Breeder Scam
Here are common signs that a breeder is a scam. We will cover this more in-depth below:
Spotting a Great Dane breeder scam is crucial to ensure you’re dealing with a reputable source. Here’s a short list of signs that may indicate a potential scam:
Unrealistic Prices:
Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. Scammers attract buyers by setting a low price point, usually around $600-$800.
Lack of Communication:
A legitimate breeder will be open to communication and willing to provide information about the breeding process, health records, and more. If the breeder avoids answering questions or is combative or unresponsive, it could be a red flag. Good breeders will be willing to meet with you in person or on video chat.
No References or Reviews:
Reputable breeders often have references from previous customers or positive reviews online. If you can’t find any information about the breeder or their past transactions, be very cautious.
Pressure Tactics:
Scammers may use high-pressure tactics to rush the decision-making process, claiming that there are limited puppies available or urging you to make a quick payment. Legitimate breeders will allow you time to make an informed decision.
Payment Methods:
Be cautious if the breeder insists on unconventional payment methods or requests payment through wire transfers, gift cards, or other non-traceable means. Legitimate breeders typically accept more secure payment options and will never accept payment from random people they have not spoken to in person (“Buy Now” buttons are also a red flag, more on this below!)
Unverified Contact Information:
Check the breeder’s contact information, including their address and phone number. Scammers may provide false or unverifiable details. Legitimate breeders should have a physical address and be willing to share it.
Limited or No Verifiable Health Testing or Guarantees:
Legitimate breeders care about the well-being of their puppies and will ask you questions to ensure a suitable environment. If the breeder does not seem concerned about the living conditions or does not ask about your ability to care for the puppy, it may be a scam.
Inconsistent or Generic Information:
Scammers may use generic information and pictures copied from other legitimate websites. Look for inconsistencies in the information provided and conduct reverse image searches to verify the authenticity of the pictures. Take note of the puppies they have for sale! If they are all different colors, photographed in different places, around 8-12 weeks of age, and “ready to go”, you’ve found a scam.
No Face-to-Face Interaction:
Whenever possible, visit the breeder in person or use video calls to see the puppies and their living conditions. Scammers may avoid face-to-face interactions and provide excuses for why this isn’t possible.
Remember, it’s essential to do thorough research and trust your instincts when dealing with Great Dane breeders. If something feels off, consider exploring other options to ensure a safe and ethical transaction.
Who Does the Puppy Breeder Scam Target?
Individuals who are particularly susceptible to falling victim to fake Great Dane breeders often include those driven by impulsive decision-making, intense emotional attachment to owning a specific breed, or a lack of awareness about common scam tactics.
People who are new to pet ownership or those with limited experience in purchasing animals may be more vulnerable. Additionally, individuals who prioritize cost over legitimacy and fail to conduct thorough research may become targets.
Scammers often exploit the emotional connection people have to pets, taking advantage of their eagerness to acquire a specific breed, especially if offered at seemingly unbeatable prices. Potential buyers must exercise caution, educate themselves about common scam red flags, and approach transactions with a healthy skepticism to avoid falling prey to deceptive breeders.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Am I looking for a puppy that I can take home ASAP?
Would I like to find a puppy for cheaper than the other breeders charge?
Do I tend to trust people, especially if they claim to be “family people” or “in hard times“?
Am I educated on what the OFA is, and how it’s used by reputable breeders?
While shopping, am I prioritizing quick availability, or am I patient enough to wait for the best puppy for my life?
Some people are more susceptible to being scammed than others. If you are looking for Great Dane puppies and hoping to find a deal, you are at risk.
Fake Puppy Breeder Red Flags
I will go into depth below with several other red flags that indicate that you’ve found a fake breeder.
This particular post is one of the most popular ones on our site. Even after reading it, we find people are still confused. We can spot a scam a mile away, so if you still aren’t sure, send us an email!
If you have any hesitation at all, don’t give the breeder a dime.
Let’s dive into this! Here are more fake puppy breeder red flags to watch for.
#1 – A Variety of Great Dane Puppies are Always Available
Scam breeders often have a selection of Dane puppies for you to choose from in a variety of colors. If you feel like you are shopping on Amazon for a puppy, it’s a scam!
The puppies will be available and ready to go, as soon as you purchase. It doesn’t matter when you found this breeder, they somehow magically have several 8-12-week-old puppies for you to consider.
#2 – The Dane Puppies are Potty Trained or Crate Trained
Scam breeders will often tell you that the Great Dane puppies are ‘potty trained’, ‘obedience trained’, ‘crate trained’, etc.
They will say anything to make you feel less anxious about purchasing an immature Great Dane pup.
This is a major red flag; while ethical breeders may begin the process of potty, crate, and obedience training, no young Great Dane puppy is going home with these skills set in stone.
#3 – The Great Dane Puppies are “Papered”
The scammers may tell you that the puppies are papered, AKC, or come with papers.
Additionally, they might use the word ‘champion lines’ to entice you further.
You will not find an AKC registered Great Dane puppy from fully OFA health tested champion titled parents for $650. It doesn’t exist. If a breeder is telling you that you have found this, they are trying to scam you.
#4-Buy Now or Purchase Now Option
This is an immediate red flag.
If a breeder has a buy now or “purchase this puppy” option on their site, run.
It’s a scam. Never, ever place a deposit online by clicking on a ‘buy now’ or ‘pay here’ button. It doesn’t matter if the button is on a website for a particular puppy, or a link that a “breeder” sent you via social messenger, this is a scam.
Do not give money to ANY breeder unless you meet them and the puppy in person or via video chat.
#5 – The Breeder Will Sell to Anybody
Scam Great Dane breeders do not care who you are.
You could be a dog abuser who keeps hundreds of dogs in cages; they don’t care. Scammers want your money, they aren’t interested in whether you are a good, humane, ethical, and educated home for the puppy they are selling.
Ethical breeders want to know where every puppy they sell is going, and will support you as the buyer for life. Ethical and Reputable breeders will be dedicated to their breeding program and to each puppy they produce.
#6 – High Pressure Sales Tactics
Scam breeders may use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to commit.
Here are some common phrases they may use:
I have several people interested in that puppy, if you want it, you must place a deposit now
My mother has cancer and we need the funds to pay for her meds
Somebody else already paid for that puppy, but, I have another one just like it and I’m willing to sell it to you for a little less!
If you pay for the puppy today, I’ll cover the cost of shipping him to you
We are reputable breeders and have just one puppy left, he could be in your arms tomorrow! If you let me know by 3 pm, I can get him with our shipping service
If you aren’t interested in this puppy, I need to know ASAP. The price is going to go up and I thought you might prefer to get him before he’s not on sale anymore
#7 – They Have No Reputation in the Breed Community
Scam breeders will have no reputation in the community, despite claims of being ‘established family breeders’.
Are they listed in the breeder registry at www.gdca.org?
If you feel uneasy, chances are you’ve found one of many common puppy scams!
#8 – They Stall when asked for more information
A scam Great Dane breeder will often become defensive if you ask too many questions, or they may stall by telling you lies about why they cannot answer yet.
Ethical, legitimate breeders want to answer your questions and help you find the right puppy for your family. They will be able to prove their dogs pedigrees, AKC titles, health test results, reputation, and more willingly and easily.
Worse yet, they will prey on owners who are uneducated about the health tests needed when breeding puppies! They are assuming the potential target (the buyer) is unaware of how to verify the information and will simply state “We love our pets and use only the best health tests to make sure they are perfect”.
#10 – They Will Share Incorrect Information
Because the Great Dane scammers don’t have Great Danes (or any other breed they are trying to target with their scam), they often know very little about them. We’ve seen some pretty wild claims from scammers, including information that Great Danes:
Are small and compact
Have long fur
Grow to be 50-60 lbs at maturity
Eat very little food
Require no training at all
I’m not even sure how to take that seriously…but listen. It’s a red flag!
#11 – The Breeder Solicited You
If a breeder reaches out to you to sell you a puppy (unsolicited), it’s a scam!
Run from anybody who sends you private messages on social media or via email to try and sell you a puppy.
If this isn’t a scammer and they do have puppies, you’re being pursued by a very unethical backyard breeder. This is also very suspicious!
#12 – The Breeder Needs to Sell, Urgently
If the breeder needs to sell the puppies urgently, that’s usually a sign that something is wrong.
Many scammers will tell you that the puppies must be sold ASAP to pay for medical bills, or because they will be dropped off at the shelter if people don’t buy them.
This is a scam, meant to push you over the edge and make a payment.
#13 – There is No Written Paperwork
This goes back to that shady ‘buy now’ button. Scam breeders rarely have applications, contracts, and guarantees. These are a MUST when choosing to purchase a Great Dane.
Ethical and reputable breeders will require an application, and once approved, there will be a written guarantee, Dane puppy advice worksheets, and a full contract to complete the transaction.
#14 – It’s All in the Name – Breeder Scam Names
A lot of scam breeder websites use ‘keywords’ and adjectives (descriptions) as their ‘kennel’ name or keywords all over their website.
Examples of shady keywords?
Tall Great Danes Best Great Danes Great Danes Puppies Heavy Great Danes Great Dane Pups Reputable Great Danes Big Pup Great Danes Magnificent Danes
#15 – Too Good to Be True Pricing
You won’t find an ethically-bred Great Dane from a healthy, proven, and fully tested lineage for less than $1200-$3000. Expect to pay at least $1200 for a Great Dane puppy from an ethical and reputable breeder.
If the price is too good to be true, that is because it is.
Ethical breeders put a lot of time, money and effort into their pedigree and the puppies they produce. This is not cheap and selling puppies is, as a result, not often profitable for them, either. Choose ethical breeders only.
#16 They Can and will Ship Your Puppy to you ASAP
The puppy scammers spend a LOT of time trying to convince you that they can safely ship their cute puppies to you in just a day or two.
Puppies are not Amazon Prime! Shipping puppies is complicated, and ethical breeders won’t often do it. This process is not a ‘normal’ part of puppy buying.
If a breeder can ship your puppy overnight and have it in your arms ASAP, it’s a scam. It doesn’t matter how well-written and convincing that their “Shipping Info” page is. Walk away.
#17 Missing Ethical Indicators
Scam breeders will not be able to share legitimate health testing results with you. These breeders will tell you that the puppies they sell are ‘certified’, ‘health certified’, or ‘veterinarian checked. Tread cautiously as this is just a facade.
Verify the health testing results of BOTH parents at www.ofa.org This is a fantastic way to immediately rule out both scams and unethical breeders.
#18 – Social Media Puppy Scam
There are many fake Facebook (or Instagram) profiles going around of people who are pretending to be a breeder or dog owners with puppies.
They will make you feel they are legitimate by being a ‘real person’, and through private messages will show you photos of cute puppies.
“I’m not a breeder, this was an accident” “My spouse/kid/mom has cancer/COVID/etc.” “I’m selling the puppies for my mom/friend/co-worker” “I got this puppy and don’t need/want it”
Once you place a deposit with them, they will often impose extra costs or offer excuses as to why they won’t be able to deliver your puppy that day.
Before you place a deposit or pay any money to the breeder, we recommend that you ask them to meet you in person or do a live video chat and show you the puppy. There is no legitimate excuse for a breeder to skip this important step.
#19 – Shady Reviews
Testimonials and reviews are intended to boost your confidence in the transaction. We recommend that you proceed with caution. The strange usage of language, spelling errors, and omissions often indicate fraudulent reviews that were written by the fake breeder.
With the ever-growing popularity and quality of AI-Generated written content, expect that the websites, interactions, and “reviews” from these fake puppy sellers will only become harder and harder to spot.
How to Find a Legitimate Puppy Breeder
Ethical breeders will market their pups based on their true strengths including health, structure, and disposition. These breeders WILL NOT use terms like “Euro,” “Champion,” or “Potty Trained.”
The single best place to start looking for a puppy is by visiting your breed’s parent club. For Great Danes, in the U.S., that would be the Great Dane Club of America.
From there, you can connect with your local club and rub elbows with the most dedicated and reputable breeders in your area. They can refer you to others as well!
Here is some information about legitimate and ethical breeders:
They are very interested in you as the buyer and have questions about your experience with Giant breeds, puppies, and having a dog in your home.
They will want to know about your veterinarian, home life, fencing, and work schedule.
They will have an application, a contract, and a return guarantee.
You will not likely be able to purchase a puppy right now and may have to get on a waitlist.
An ethical breeder will be cautious about shipping puppies if they ship at all.
Real breeders will send you photos and show you the puppy via video and video chat.
Ethical breeders will use Puppy Culture, ENS, and other socialization programs
The best Great Dane Breeders will prove their dog’s temperament and structure with AKC (American Kennel Club), CKC (Canadian Kennel Club), and FCI (European) obedience/CGC, trick, sport and/or conformation titles.
They keep a close eye on the written standard and actively breed to improve it and the health of their pedigree.
Will have a positive reputation in the breed community among other legitimate, ethical breeders, conformation judges, and breed fanciers and are affiliated with the GDCA/GDCC in some way (as a member or as somebody who is mentoring under a mentor. www.gdca.org is the best place to begin your search for an ethical Great Dane breeder.
If you are still unsure whether or not you’ve come across a fraud, go down this checklist:
If you are about to place a deposit with a breeder that has many of these red flags, you can send us an email to inquire. We will look into it and verify if the breeder you are dealing with is legitimate or not.
I can tell you from experience, that we receive several emails every week, and in 2 years of this (since we published this blog), there was not a single legitimate breeder.
Do a reverse image search (use Google) of the images the breeder has shared with you.
Ask them for references (be careful, they can fake this!).
Ask your local breed club and enthusiast groups if they are familiar with the breeder, if they aren’t, ask them who they recommend.
Ask the breeder that you are working with to provide information about the puppy’s AKC registration and CHIC (OFA) numbers. Verify this information with the AKC and at www.OFA.org
Ask them for more photos of the puppies. Are their markings the same from one photo to the next? Structure? Backgrounds?
Ask them to do a live chat where you can SEE the puppies and the parents. If they will not do this, or won’t do it without a deposit, RUN.
Never, ever place a deposit until you see the puppy (via video chat or in person) and verify the breeder’s pedigree and health testing information with the AKC and the OFA.
Grab this infographic and please share it on your social media or website! Help us spread the word about these insidious and common scams.
Hey, we are all here because we LOVE Great Danes. The decision of whether to breed a Great Dane is a weighty and multifaceted consideration that requires careful thought and responsible decision-making.
It’s tempting to jump right into the process because your pet is wonderful with kids and a great family member. Beyond the allure of the breed’s majestic presence and gentle temperament, prospective breeders must consider the complexities of responsible breeding, acknowledging the significant responsibilities that come with bringing new lives into the world.
This introspective process demands an understanding of the dog’s health, genetics, and the commitment required to ensure the well-being of both the dam and the potential litter. Aspiring breeders must grapple with ethical concerns surrounding overpopulation, the potential for genetic issues, and the extensive care needed for both the mother and the offspring.
Diving into the question of whether to breed a Great Dane necessitates a deep examination of one’s motivations, resources, and dedication to upholding the highest standards of canine welfare.
Are you thinking of breeding your amazing Great Dane?
Read on friend!
Reasons That You May Want to Breed Your Pet
Ask any Great Dane owner what they think of their dog. Every single one will tell you that theirs is the best. All of us love our dogs and are attached to everything about them; their personalities, their unique markings, the way that they walk.
Look at this list and ask yourself what reasons you have for breeding your dog:
Love for the Breed: A genuine passion for the specific breed, such as the Great Dane, and a desire to contribute positively to its community and the written breed standard.
Desire for a Similar Companion: Wanting to replicate the positive traits, temperament, and appearance of one’s beloved pet for personal enjoyment.
Financial Incentives: The potential financial gains from selling puppies, especially if the dog comes from a recognized and desirable lineage.
Educational Purpose: A wish to experience the miracle of birth and educate oneself about the complexities of canine reproduction.
Preservation of Lineage: A commitment to preserving the lineage and bloodline of a particular breed, especially if the dog has exceptional traits.
Those reasons come with considerations, too, that should be taken very seriously. How much responsibility are you willing to take for the realities of breeding?
Before you take another step towards breeding your dog, put some time into your evaluation of the following considerations:
Overpopulation Concerns: Awareness of the global issue of pet overpopulation, leading to millions of dogs in shelters, and the ethical responsibility to avoid contributing to the problem.
Health and Genetic Considerations: Understanding the potential risks of passing on genetic diseases or health issues, and the importance of thorough health screenings for the breeding pair.
Time and Commitment: Recognizing the considerable time, effort, and resources required for the health and well-being of the mother and the puppies, including proper care during pregnancy, whelping, and postnatal care.
Screening and Responsible Ownership: Emphasizing the importance of thoroughly screening potential homes for the puppies and promoting responsible ownership to ensure a lifelong commitment to the dogs.
Ethical Breeding Practices: The commitment to adhering to ethical breeding practices, including proper socialization of puppies, ensuring suitable living conditions, and supporting buyers throughout the dogs’ lives.
The Health of Your Pet: breeding and whelping are a serious and risky business. Never breed a pet you aren’t willing to lose.
The Great Dane Breeding Checklist
Here is a checklist to follow before breeding your Great Dane. We will outline this in more detail below. If your dog doesn’t meet all of these basics, they should not be bred!
Which ones apply to your pet?
The dog has a known pedigree
The pedigree is free of wobblers, bloat, serious aggression, fearful/timid behavior, IMGD, heart disease, blood clotting disorders, degenerative disorders, and hip or elbow dysplasia.
You have studied the pedigree and believe it to be free of those conditions
The dog has full registration (a limited registration indicates that the dog should not be bred)
Full health testing: eyes, heart, hips, thyroid and genetic testing and color screening has been completed and passed
The dog has a stable, confident, friendly temperament with humans and other animals
The dog is at least age 2, and if female under the age of 5
You are diligent in choosing a partner to pair your dog with
You are willing to support puppy buyers for life
Should I Breed My Great Dane?
If you’ve gotten this far and are still asking this question, we are ready to dig in!
All breeders start somewhere, and asking this question is the first step!
AKC Registrations and Papers
AKC papers are helpful, but they are NOT an indicator of quality.
AKC papers show that the dog came from a lineage of other Great Danes. They don’t show if the puppies came from a lineage of robust, healthy, well-built dogs.
You can see this at play often: many people with purebred AKC Great Danes are still struggling with devastating issues including aggression, arthritis, ACL tears, heart disease, wobblers, and degenerative disorders.
Some AKC ‘purebred’ Great Danes don’t even look like Great Danes because breeders weren’t being careful or selective with their pairings.
Having AKC papers in the U.S. (or Canadian Kennel Club for Canada, FCI for Europe) is important as it helps document lineage and shows puppy buyers that they are getting a purebred dog.
We have seen some positively sketchy ‘AKC’ Great Danes.
Papers are NOT enough to make a breeding decision though. It’s that simple.
Structure, Movement, and Breed Standard
You don’t need a show dog to breed dogs, but you should be thoughtful about what genetics you are passing along.
Having a neat color, great personality or a ‘Euro’ look simply isn’t enough.
If all you see are positive things, remember this. All dogs have faults, and for every positive thing they pass on, they pass on their faults, too.
Whether we like it or not, all dogs have some fault or another. Even the most well-kept, well-bred beautiful show dogs will have something minor that isn’t ‘perfect’.
Those faults lie in their genetics, and breeding is how you either continue or discontinue faults.
Some common and unacceptable faults in Great Danes include:
Roach, sloping or sway back
Narrow hips
Overbite or underbite
Hip or elbow dysplasia
Droopy eyes
Excessive jowls/flew/drool
Apple or dome-shaped head
Wide-set eyes
Sloping stop
Stick out or hound ears
Incorrect ‘Dane’ look in the head overall
Poorly developed feet, flat feet, stick-out feet
Weak pasterns
Cow hocks
Lack of substance
Flat chest/front
Poor angulation
Over angulation
Wear rear
Double merle
Aggression
Fearful or timid behavior
Genetic propensity towards dysplasia, bloat, wobblers, cancer, blood clotting disorders, or heart disease
Can you evaluate your dog objectively? If you aren’t sure, you can always ask for help!
Understanding angulation and overall structure requires an educated eye.
This is important because poor structure leads to pain and mobility problems later in life; poor genetics should not be intentionally passed on.
Ask in one of the many conformation groups on Facebook (post photos of your dog and they can tell you where the faults and strengths are) and get into the show ring with your Dane (there are fun conformation classes you can take to learn how).
Temperament is equally important! Great Danes should be reliable, friendly, and confident. Danes with excellent temperaments will be easy to train and can pass a Canine Good Citizen test.
They should not be fearful, flighty, or unstable in any way.
Because temperament is largely genetic, it’s important that you only breed your dog if it has an exceptional and stable personality.
As the breeder, you should also be willing to dedicate a lot of time to the young puppies in your home by socializing them appropriately before they are sent home at 8-12 weeks of age.
Breeding Rights & Limited Registrations
Make sure you reference the contract that you signed when you purchased your Great Dane.
Is there any language in there restricting you from breeding your dog?
Do you need to talk to the original breeder first?
Did your breeder sell your puppy with Limited AKC Registration (meaning that you will NOT be able to register or paper the puppies that are produced from the litter)?
If your breeder didn’t outline these things, doesn’t care, had no restrictions, or didn’t have a contract in the first place you should NOT be breeding your dog.
These things are red flags for unethical breeding practices and indicate that your pup likely comes from questionable genetics.
Your Great Dane may be a wonderful family pet, but he/she isn’t likely to meet a reasonable standard for breeding quality.
Great Dane Health Testing
A vet check is not enough.
If you want to breed your dog, visit www.ofa.org and view the current requirements for fully health-testing Great Danes.
At a minimum, your dog will need to have and pass the following health tests before breeding:
Eye exam by a Board-Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist
Echocardiogram to assess heart health and rule out primary DCM and heart disorders
Thyroid panel to assess thyroid function
Both the DAM and the SIRE will require these tests, which can run upwards of $2-4K for each dog.
It is flat-out irresponsible to breed without completing, passing, and submitting these tests to www.ofa.org.
If you don’t know for a fact that your dog is free of significant, painful, and/or life-threatening faults then you should not proceed. An Embark panel does not count.
Additional Health Screenings
If you want to be extra diligent and ethical, you may also want to perform the following screenings, especially if your Great Dane doesn’t come from an already exceptional and known pedigree:
We do not condone the practice of breeding dogs without full OFA health tests, and if you choose to continue without them, we no longer support you. It is even more offensive to set up a website with a breeder/kennel name and continue without this testing.
Puppy buyers are becoming more and more savvy about this. It can be extremely difficult to sell puppies from untested parents, because people are seeing just how heartbreaking it is when Great Danes receive preventable structural, growth and health faults.
If the dog you want to breed came from parents who were not fully health tested as outlined above, these things are even more important.
OFA health testing cannot be completed until the age of 2+. Thus, age 2 is the minimum age when you can consider breeding a Great Dane.
Not only that, but you can’t fully evaluate a Great Dane’s mature structure until they are at least that age.
Males in particular tend to mature slowly; you do not want to breed a still-growing 18-month-old Sire and then find out that they never really fill out correctly (and passed on a poor substance to the puppies).
Patience is a virtue here! It’s important to allow Great Danes their full chance to develop before asking them to breed for you.
Females especially should never be bred before the age of 2. Breeding uses up a lot of nutrients and resources that are necessary for bone and heart health, two things that young Danes especially need to focus on. For the health, safety, and comfort of the bitch, she should not be bred before full maturity.
Has your dog been bred before?
No Dam/Bitch should ever be asked to breed more than 2-4 times. So if you’ve reached that point, STOP.
If your Dam or Sire has produced a litter in the past, what were the litters like?
Were the puppies solid, healthy, robust, curious, and friendly?
Did they become quality pets?
Did any of them have significant structural problems, health issues, or faults?
Have any of those puppies developed bloat, aggression, autoimmune disorders (including allergies), heart problems, limb deformities, blood clotting problems, seizures, diabetes, or thyroid issues?
Don’t breed again if your breed choices are not producing dogs that serve to improve the breed.
Do you have a breeder mentor?
What made you want to breed your dog in the first place?
Find a mentor who has vast experience breeding Danes.
Don’t just pick up advice from a backyard breeder (unfortunately, they hide in plain sight) or other pet owners. Find somebody who is truly focused on breed health and ethics. The Great Dane Club of America is a good place to start.
At some point, if you truly want to get ‘in’ to breeding, you’re going to see the difference between ‘well-bred’ and ‘purebred’ and you’re going to want a puppy from an excellent breeder
By seeking out their advice BEFORE you breed, you prove yourself early and are more likely to have access to quality puppies.
We are always happy to provide our honest opinion about your breeding program and breeding stock as well, just send us an email!
So You Bred Your Great Dane, Now What?
Breeding your Great Dane doesn’t stop with the choice to do it or not. Once the decision has been made, there are key considerations, especially for females!
Breeding a Great Dane Sire
Breeding the male comes with much less responsibility than breeding the female.
The biggest responsibility here is to make sure that your excellent, fully tested, and proven male is only being offered to excellent females who will be bred ethically, are fully health tested, and with a breeder who plans to support the puppies for life.
You will want to work with a qualified reproductive veterinarian to discuss semen collection vs. natural breeding.
Choose a female that compliments your male well and balances his faults. Do not just pick a random AKC Great Dane.
Breeding a Great Dane Dam
If your dog is the Dam, you have additional responsibility as your dog will be carrying the litter.
They say to never breed a dog you would not be ok losing.
The fact of the matter is that breeding and whelping can be dangerous.
Not only that but raising Great Dane puppies is fun until it isn’t.
The mother may require medical support and even an expensive C-section. You MUST have money set aside for this.
Some of the puppies may die or need to be euthanized, and you MUST prepare yourself emotionally for this, too.
You will need an appropriate XXL whelping pen, puppy pads, blankets, a heat lamp, ribbons and collars for each puppy, and a kit full of additional birthing supplies and supplements that your veterinarian will recommend.
Because pregnancy, whelping, and nursing will use up a lot of important nutrients, your female will need to be on science-backed high-quality puppy foodand supplements (talk to your veterinarian).
You will be up all hours of the night, especially at first (and that’s just with a healthy pregnancy and birth!).
There will be POOP and PEE everywhere.
You’ll have to pay for additional veterinary checkups for your dam, and the puppies will also need vaccinations, deworming, and possibly dew-claw removal (more $$!).
Registering and microchipping the litter will also cost money.
As the puppies grow they become tenacious, noisy, and HUNGRY! They also bite. A LOT.
A large litter can eat a lot of food, as can the mother who needs the nutrition to support the growing puppies.
This decision to breed could end up becoming the longest and most expensive, exhausting, frustrating, and rewarding 5 months of your life.
You’ll have to find quality, dedicated, and knowledgeable homes for the puppies, too. That is no easy task for new breeders, especially. You need to draw up contracts and be prepared to enforce them, too.
Can you support your puppy buyers?
Expect to have to provide support to all puppy buyers, for the life of their dogs.
They will send you text messages and phone calls and will need information about food, puppy biting, vaccines, and more.
Are you educated about Great Danes and prepared to field those questions? If not, don’t breed your dog.
Are you also prepared to take those dogs back should any one of them have significant health or temperament issues, or if an owner cannot keep the dog?
Ethical breeders feel immense pain and guilt if any of their dogs end up needing rescue, expensive veterinary care, or euthanasia.
If you don’t care where the puppies end up once they leave the litter, you should not be breeding your dog.
Will you be proud of the results?
Are you willing to accept responsibility if puppies in the litter turn up with significant faults?
Will you be proud of your litter if they have flat feet, hunched backs, or timid personalities?
Are you going to feel good about seeing puppies turn up with droopy eyes, bloat, or wobblers?
Think about how the choices you make now will affect not only every puppy in the upcoming litter but your life for the next 5-15 years.
We Understand wanting to breed Great Danes, truly.
This is why we are here with a solid belief in education and ethics, wishing to share that foundation with others so that every puppy buyer receives a dog that has been truly set up for success.
Good breeders have waitlists. If you have to work hard to sell the puppies, that’s a good sign that you should NEVER HAVE BRED the dogs in the first place.
Do you wish to get into breeding ethically?
Do you desire to make sure that you are creating healthy, confident puppies?
We encourage you to keep learning. Find a high-quality breeder and mentor with them.
Purchase a dog that could be shown and consider going into the show ring. Get to know the people in your local breed club. Dig into the written standard and understand what the difference is between a well-bred dog and a purebred dog.
Lastly, be thoughtful.
We know you love your dog, but chances are you probably shouldn’t breed him or her.
Alternatives to Breeding
If you really want to breed so that your dog can ‘experience motherhood’ or so that your kids can ‘learn and experience it’, consider rescue instead.
Many rescues need temporary foster homes for whelping mothers, or temporary housing for young puppies until they are placed.
It’s a good opportunity to do a POSITIVE thing for your Community and still get to experience the sweet magic of tiny puppies!
There are questions to ask a dog breeder to examine whether they are producing quality puppies!
We hear often from people who brought a puppy home from a bad dog breeder, an unethical or back-yard breeder and said ‘I just didn’t know any better’.
Breeding dogs should be something for responsible dog breeders, NOT for everyone. Likewise, a new puppy owner should be educated on what puppy is the right puppy for them, be sold a healthy puppy, and be prepared to take care of them for the entire puppy’s life.
Questions to Ask Dog Breeder
Responsible breeders LOVE to answer questions from puppy buyers!
Reputable dog breeders pour their life and heart into their new puppies. A dog breeder who is hesitant to answer questions is NOT a good breeder!
Puppy buyers should never be afraid to ask ALL of the questions, as a legitimate breeder will love to discuss all of your wonderings.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOG BREEDER
Does the mom and dad have temperament testing?
Do the puppies come with a health guarantee?
Are there health certificates to show the health tests that have been done on the mom/dad?
What is the breed’s temperament?
Are there any genetic diseases in the genes?
Are you able to visit the breeder’s home and see the puppies in real life?
How many dogs does the potential breeder own?
Is the dog breeder apart of a kennel club?
Are you able to speak with previous puppy buyers?
Does the breeder own the puppy’s parents?
Do the puppies get taken to vet visits?
Do the puppies and dogs get socialized from a young age, and if so what are the methods?
How many litters has the female and stud dog had?
RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS VS. BACKYARD BREEDING
Whether we like it or not, bad breeders are out there. They are everywhere. Some are even scams: they just want your money and have no puppies to sell at all.
If you are looking for your next (or first!) Great Dane puppy, we wrote this post for you. Just because a breeder has puppies doesn’t mean that they are operating ethically or selling healthy puppies that were raised with care.
Look for Red Flags When You Are Getting a New Puppy
Responsible breeding is not easy to do. Dogs and puppies cost a lot of money and time to care for properly. If a breeder is not asking questions about you and your home, they may not be as interested in finding the best homes for their puppies as they should be.
A responsible dog breeder will:
Be able to tell you about the temperament of the parents and grandparents
Have done health testing on the parents
Ask you a lot of questions about your home and family
Help you to pick the right puppy for your lifestyle
Give you a contract that outlines their health guarantee and terms of sale.
When you are looking for a breeder for a puppy, look for ‘red flags’ to help you identify the reputable breeders from the ones who may not be the right breeder for ou.
RED FLAG NUMBER 1: The breeder has no name or a bad name in the local community.
Keep in mind that just because people might know about your breeder or may even recommend them, does not mean that they don’t have other red flags!
A newer responsible breeder may not have an established presence, but if they are operating ethically, they are working under the mentorship of other breeders and will have a reputation that way.
It is ultimately the breeder’s responsibility to make connections within the breed clubs and find mentors that will help them produce the best puppies for their puppy buyer.
RED FLAG NUMBER 2: No or limited OFA Health Testing.
Breeders that invest in OFA health tests are more likely to be interested in the breed standard and health as a whole. When both parents have been fully tested, they are less likely to pass on painful, preventable, and sometimes life-threatening conditions such as hip displasia, thyroid disease, and cardiomyopathy. Ensuring that your puppy has a health certificate can be the difference between many breeders who are breeding solely for financial gain vs. buying a puppy from a reputable breeder who wants to better the breed.
Ask the breeder for the CHIC # for both dogs contributing to the litter. If they cannot give you this number, don’t have it, or you cannot verify it in the database at www.ofa.org, it is a MASSIVE red flag.
Outside of the U.S. the process for this will be different, however, it is a red flag if the breeder doesn’t complete at minimum x-rays, echocardiograms, eye exams and blood work to check for hip dysplaysia, elbow dysplays, eye disorders, thyroid disease and cardiac problems on both dam and sire.
Expect NOTHING less. A vet check is NOT health testing.
RED FLAG NUMBER 3: They seem desperate, too ‘perfect and impersonal’ or require a deposit provide more information.
Desperation is a classic breeder red flag that may also indicate that the breeder is a scam and may not even have real puppies to sell you.
If they seem pushy and offer high-pressure sales, list off all of the triggers (‘Health tested’, ‘Raised in a Home’, ‘Comes with a Leash and Collar’, ‘Snuggly and cute’), and seem to have very little interest in making sure you are the right home for the dog, tread cautiously.
Great dog breeders don’t have the capacity to get an entire litter of puppies potty trained, leash trained, and even ‘fully trained’ before sending them home. Yes, a responsible breeder can get started on these things and other dog related activities, but it is ultimately up to the puppy’s parents to finish these tasks1
A breeder should NEVER require you to place a deposit before answering your questions, and good breeders are exceptionally picky about buyers. You should have to work a little to prove yourself. If it’s the other way around, be wary.
RED FLAG NUMBER 4: The breeder won’t show the parents, or the parents are aggressive, look sick, or don’t look like Great Danes or the breed.
A professional breeder is proud of their Dam and Sire dogs. They keep them in a home environment and make sure that they are healthy, clean, and well-cared for.
Run from any breeder that won’t show you the parents, or if you see that the parents are kept in a kennel/barn, are not well-kept or lack breed type. It is unacceptable to see dogs being bred that have roached or sway backs, narrow hips, minimal substance, flat feet and overall poor structure. The parents should be excellent example of breed type in both structure and temperament.
RED FLAG NUMBER 5: The puppies are sick, weak, timid, roached or are knuckling and have flat feet.
Ask to see photos and videos of the puppies often as they are raised.
They should have plenty of substance (they should not appear wimpy or scrawny), great structure, nice head shapes and large, solid tight well-knuckled feet.
A reputable breeder will be exposing them to a variety of textures and obstacles (ramps, tunnels, boxes, grass, tile, gravel, etc.) that help build their confidence and strength. Additionally, the breeder should keep the puppies clean and trim their nails often.
IS YOUR GREAT DANE PUPPY KNUCKLING?
Check out our science-based and constantly growing knuckling resource page.
Timid or ill-tempered puppies (those that resource guard or are pushy and rude) often become timid and ill-tempered adults.
Quality breeders work very hard through thoughtful breeding practices and socialization to make sure puppies have excellent substance and temperaments.
Ideally you want to see that the puppies are curious, stand up tall and appear enthusiastic and healthy.
If you notice something looks off about the entire litter, there could be something amiss with the breeder. A whole litter getting sick is a red flag.
RED FLAG NUMBER 6: The breeder doesn’t have a contract or lifetime breeder support and return guarantees.
Don’t get sucked into the line that the dog breeder is ‘desperate’ or ‘has cancer and cannot offer support’. Dog breeders who do this solely for the money will make up all kinds of lies to tug at your heartstrings.
Ethical breeders care very much about their puppies and never, ever want them surrendered or ending up in rescue. Run from any breeder that doesn’t state in the contract that they want the dog back for any reason.
The contract will also outline breeding rights, spay/neuter timelines, and care guidelines. A dog breeder who truly cares about their dogs will be there for the entire dog’s life. Buying a puppy from a good breeder is not ‘a moment’, but a relationship!
The dog breeder should require you to return the dog to them if you are unable to keep it for some reason.
As a dog owner, this gives you an opportunity to return the dog to a safe place (the breeder who can then rehome him or her) if needed, instead of dumping the dog into the lap of our already strained Great Dane rescue system. If the breeder doesn’t offer lifetime support and at least a 2 year guarantee warranting the dog against certain health problems, run.
RED FLAG NUMBER 7: The dog breeder allows the puppies to go home prior to 8 weeks of age.
Inexperienced or careless breeders may claim that the mom ‘lost interest’ and ‘isn’t caring for the puppies’ around the time that the puppies naturally wean from the mother.
The mother may snap at the puppies to remind them to stop nursing or to correct them for being rude, and breeders will use this as an excuse to send the puppies home weeks before they should be leaving their mom.
The communication the mom gives the pups, and the communication the pups give each other is an incredibly important part of their development.
Puppies that go home prior to 8-10 weeks are extremely immature and struggle with bite control and potty training. There is rarely a reason for a puppy to go home earlier than this; if the mom is truly exhibiting dangerous aggressive behavior towards the pups, she should not have been bred.
Be patient and hold your dog breeder to a higher standard!
Double Merle puppies can be deaf, blind, or may have allergies and other health conditions. In the right hands these dogs can live a wonderful life, but many of them are either euthanized or end up in rescue and have questionable temperaments and high veterinary bills.
It is very important when buying a puppy to be able to see a full health certificate of all of the dogs within their genetics to make sure that your puppy was not the result of a double merle breeding.
Double Merle puppies are preventable. Make sure your breeder only pairs genetically proven (through testing) solid colors (such as mantle, black or blue) when breeding to a harlequin, merle or piebald dog.
Did you buy from a ‘red flag’ breeder? We’d love to hear your experience!
That’s a lot of information on which breeders NOT to choose, but how do we know which breeders are the ones to look for?
This post is perhaps the most important in our series on finding and supporting ethical breeders, and one you should read before you purchase your next Great Dane Puppy.
FIND A GREAT DANE BREEDER NEAR ME
Before you can begin the process of choosing a breeder, you have to find one!
Now that you’ve got a few names, you’ll want to narrow it down a bit. Perhaps you are looking for a specific color, or really like the ‘look’ of the dogs being produced by one of the breeders. Avoid buzzwords like ‘Euro’.
Healthy Great Dane puppies should have good bone (‘substance’) and be confident, curious and friendly. They should have tight, strong feet and be free of knuckling, worms and sores.
If you see timid, sick, weak or small puppies contact your local Great Dane rescue.
They may be able to step in and request that the breeder surrender the dogs and help them find suitable homes once they are healthy.
WHAT IS AKC REGISTRATION?
Ask the breeder about AKC Registration.
They should have a documented pedigree for the puppies going back at least 4 generations, and should be willing to share it with you so that you can research the genetics.
Most ethical breeders sell their puppies with an AKC LIMITED registration, meaning that you won’t be able to breed your puppy and register the off-spring with the AKC.
This restriction helps breeders keep their genetic lines from getting mucked up by ‘backyard breeders’.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO BREED YOUR NEW GREAT DANE
If you want to breed, be honest with the breeder and ask if you can mentor with them. Finding a quality breeder to learn from will also ensure you have better access to quality puppies for breeding in the future.
LOOK FOR A BREEDER THAT SOCIALIZES ITS PUPPIES
Make sure the breeder you are talking to thoroughly socializes the puppies.
Well-socialized dogs make GREAT family pets! Be wary of any breeder that doesn’t expose puppies to a variety of textures, obstacles, noises, experiences and items. They should be spending time with the puppies and making sure they have lots of opportunity outside of the whelping area.
If the puppies are extremely timid, shy and fearful it’s very likely that the breeder is not using ethical practices for breeding and socialization. These puppies absolutely deserve an amazing chance at life, but their breeder does not deserve your money.
Some of the best breeders use Puppy Culture/ENS type protocols that are time consuming but extremely effective for ensuring that puppies are confident, engaged and able to handle the world. Read our post on Puppy Culture socialization here.
NO DOUBLE MERLE
No ethical, thoughtful breeder will pair two dogs with spotted coats.
Entire rescues are dedicated to saving the sick, timid, weak, deaf and blind white or mostly white puppies that result from these preventable pairings. Some breeders will do this anyways and then hard cull (euthanize) the white puppies at birth so that people never know.
Be educated about this, it’s important!
CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE COLOR PAIRING
Appropriate Great Dane Color pairings include:
Harlequin + Mantle Mantle + Mantle Black + Black Etc.
BREEDER CONTRACT
A breeder should have a solid, in-depth contract for you that covers everything from basic care requirements to breeding restrictions, spay and neuter and health and return guarantees.
Any breeder that does not require this doesn’t likely care much about the puppies, where they end up, or their relationship with you as the buyer. Ask to see the contract in advance; this can also help weed out breeders that are actually a scam and don’t have any puppies to sell you at all.
BREEDER GUARANTEE
Your breeder should be 100% willing to take a puppy back at any time, for any reason.
This simple guarantee helps ensure that no ethically-bred Great Dane ever ends up in a shelter or rescue.
If your breeder wouldn’t take a dog back, they don’t care much where they end up. In my opinion, that’s one of the worst offenses a breeder can make.
If you don’t think it matters because you never have any plans to return the dog, do a quick search through the many Great Dane rehoming groups. Digest the sheer volume of posts from people who didn’t think they would ever have to find a new home for their dog.
None of those people likely have a breeder who backs them up and will help them. Don’t be that person, and don’t financially support those kinds of ‘breeders’.
BREEDER KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT
The breeder you choose should have a HUGE amount of knowledge about Great Danes and will be able to talk to you about nutrition, health and more.
Expect your breeder to be interested in you as a buyer, and to want to watch the puppy grow up. They will be there to answer your questions!
It is important that you have a personal relationship with your breeder. If you don’t like them as a person, that maybe a red flag.
WHY DOES CHOOSING THE RIGHT BREEDER MATTER?
It’s not the ethical breeders that are the problem.
It’s the careless, thoughtless backyard & mill breedersthat are a driving reason behind why so many dogs end up in rescue.
We support breeders, and we support a buyers choice to choose breeders instead of choosing rescue.
If you choose to purchase a dog, we ask that you to be thoughtful in your decision. Choose only the types of breeders who are not contributing to the population of discarded purebred Great Danes that fill up local rescues across the Country.
You may have heard the term ‘Double Merle’ associated with Great Danes. Double Merle Great Danes can be beautiful, but why are they this color? How do you get a pure white Great Dane?
Here are 5 facts about white Great Danes that you maybe didn’t know!
What Are Double Merle Great Danes?
A double merle Great Dane will be most often all white or close to it. (White Great Danes). Some may have merle patches and not be pure white.
As striking as they can be, this is not a color that should be intentionally produced, celebrated, or desired in Great Danes.
Double Merle Great Danes are often blind and/or deaf and can have other significant health problems, including autoimmune disorders, eye disorders, deformities, aggression, allergies, and problems with their heart, thyroid, and digestive system.
It’s important to note that not all ‘double merle’ dogs will have health or temprement problems. However, many will.
Many DM (double-merle) Great Danes are pure white, however, they can have some spots (most often merle patches). The absence of color around the ears and eyes is a contributing factor to deafness and blindness.
A Harlequin Great Dane is white with torn black patches and is NOT double-merle. Fawnequin and brindlequin are also not double merle, even though they have a white base coat like a harlequin does.
A double-merle white Great Dane
How Are Double Merle Great Danes Made?
Many Great Danes carry the merle gene. Merle genes are responsible for creating the beautiful Merle and Harlequin coats, as well as many off standard colors with spots (‘merlequin’, ‘fawnequin’, etc.).
By itself, the merle gene is ok.
When a puppy receives TWO copies of the merle gene (one from each parent that carries it), they are ‘double-merle’.
Double Merle puppies happen in litters where a breeder paired (either intentionally or accidentally) two dogs that each carry the merle gene. Not all puppies in a litter bred like this will be double-merle.
Each puppy in the litter has a 1-in-4 chance of receiving BOTH merle genes. To put this into perspective, that’s leaves each puppy (in the litter) a 75% chance that they will NOT be double merle, and have a normal single-merle coat pattern.
It is important to note that Double Merle dogs are 100% preventable.
This highlights the importance of genetic color testing prior to breeding, for breeders that are unsure if either dog in the pairing is merle or not. Color testing can be done HERE.
Double Merle Great Dane Health Problems
Not all white Great Danes will have health problems. However, because of their unique genetic makeup, many of them do. Here are some common things seen in double-merle Great Danes.
Deafness
Blindness
Under developed eyes
Eye problems that lead to pain or blindness
Auto-immune disorders
Allergies and skin sensitivities
Poor overall conformation (resulting from bad breeding practices)
Aggression, fear, and other temperament problems (instability)
A white Great Dane
Double Merle Practices & History in Great Danes
Double merle dogs are most often produced by unethical backyard breeders who either had “no idea this could happen“, or didn’t care.
Some breeders pair merle + merle dogs because they are in pursuit of ‘interesting’ designer colors. The flashy merle gene may result in some puppies getting catchy or trending colors that sell well and result in profits for the breeder.
Additionally, in the world of show dogs, some show breeders intentionally pair two Harlequin Great Danes with exceptional pedigrees because the pairing may produce desirable ‘show marked Harlequins’.
At times, this is done because well-built and appropriate black or mantle studs are hard to find, and keeping the gene pool diverse is important.
Unlike the backyard breeders who don’t understand genetics, however, a show breeder pairing merle + merle will often utilize genetic testing and a thorough study of the pedigree, which can help greatly reduce the risks associated with this practice.
The actual length of the merle gene carried by each parent can affect the outcome, and will be part of the considerations involved when pairing two dogs with a merle gene. This is what makes color testing so important.
The GDCA condones this practice, as of this writing.
Editor’s Note: At Hello Danes we are fierce advocates for truly ethical show breeders. It’s important to note that there is a massive difference between a backyard breeder (whom we don’t support for any reason) and a breeder who is showing, color testing, and fully OFA health testing their dogs prior to breeding.
While we don’t personally condone the practice of breeding “spot to spot” for show purposes, we recognize that it happens and understand why. It’s seen in MANY pedigrees.
Our stance is that backyard breeders and unethical breeders, especially those breeding for fancy colors and dumping puppies in rescue are the biggest issue to contend with when it comes to double-merle dogs.
It’s important that Dane owners not get ‘lost’ in the double-merle discussion, as 100% of sick, unhealthy, abandoned double-merle puppies are coming from unethical breeders.
Double Merle Danes & Breeders
Unethical breeders who produce white puppies may lie to buyers about them. They will often say that they are a ‘designer color’ and sell them at a premium price. Many others will dump them on rescues when they are born.
These are not reputable practices. It doesn’t matter how ‘friendly’ or nice the breeder seems, if they are dumping white puppies or selling them at a premium, they are a backyard breeder.
The Great Dane Club of America condones the practice of hard culling (euthanizing) deaf double-merle puppies by 5 weeks of age; this is practiced by some breeders, most often the ‘old school’ type.
Advances in merle gene color testing, we believe, has greatly reduced this practice.
Other breeders (typically the show breeders that are focused on structure, health, and temperament) take responsibility for these pups (if they end up with some in a litter) and will find them suitable, quality homes and support them for life.
Always ask questions and never support breeders that don’t ethically take care of pups from their double-merle pairings!
In a spot-spot pairing, each puppy has a 25% (or 1 in 4) chance of receiving both copies of the merle gene (one from each parent), making them ‘double merle’.
Some of the double merle puppies will be reabsorbed by the mother long before birth, they simply don’t make it.
In a live litter, there may be no double merle puppies or there could be several.
Be clear about statistics with this one. Some people will say that 25% of the litter will be double merle, and that’s not how it works.
Each puppy is the one saddled with that 1-in-4 statistic, not the litter as a whole.
Great Dane Genetics & Color Testing
Ethical, educated breeders who aren’t sure and want to avoid breeding double-merle dogs in the first place will use modern advances in genetics testing to confirm the colors of each dog in a potential pairing.
If you are looking for a color that isn’t accepted by the AKC as a show color, tread cautiously.
Some fancy colors are the result of spot-spot breedings, and unethical breeders will do this because they know it may get you to spend your money with them.
Merlequin is a popular off-standard color that comes from spot-spot breed pairings. Genetically, a Merlequin is actually a double-merle dog.
Like any other double-merle, this dog may or may not have health problems.
If you are set on finding a puppy in a ‘designer‘ color, make sure your breeder is focused first on health, structure, and temperament.
Merlequin are double-merle dogs who have the harlequin pattern (torn patches of color) but instead of having mostly black torn patches, all of their patches are merle. Imagine a harlequin Dane with merle spots instead of black and merle spots, essentially.
Double Merle Great Danes in Rescue
Entire rescues are dedicated to helping the double-merle dogs that are created by unethical breeding practices, and they are FULL.
Just the other day I saw a 4-month-old white puppy. The rescue was looking for a very special and hard-to-find home because the puppy was already showing signs of aggression, fear, and guarding.
She required surgery to remove her eyes because they did not develop properly. She also had additional structural problems that will lead to pain later in life.
Backyard breeding is not ok. This is not ok. We have to STOP supporting breeders that do this, whether it was intentional or not. The breeders won’t stop, so it’s up to us as puppy buyers and advocates for Great Danes.
Adopt a Double Merle Dog
If we want to stop the production of double-merle dogs, we have to educate people so that they stop rewarding breeders for producing them.
Double Merle dogs are 100% preventable. There is no excuse, but despite the existence of blogs, veterinary documents, reputable breeders, educated buyers, rescues, and people like us who shout from the rooftops, it still happens.
Share this with others, keep spreading the word. Great Dane owners with ‘ooops’ litters that happen ‘accidentally’ between their pet Danes are another contributor. This is also preventable through educated ownership and responsibility.
Support 501c3 Great Dane rescues, adopt double merles, choose only highly ethical breeders, and have fun with your Danes!
Socialization for Great Dane puppies is SO important! Puppy Culture is a dedicated socialization program that good breeders use on puppies from birth onward to ensure that their puppies are stable, friendly, and resilient. Finding a breeder who participates in Puppy Culture is a good thing!
Many people believe that puppy socialization means taking them to the pet store and the dog park. However, doing so can actually cause the puppy to have bad experiences and become more fearful!
This is especially true for Great Dane puppies that may have come from breeders who are not focused on developing sound and stable temperaments.
Good socialization is actually a combination of positive experiences, exposure to different sights, sounds and textures, and a keen understanding of how to utilize small amounts of stress to build confidence and resilience.
Socialization is how you teach dogs to live in our world. They learn to be confident, because they know that everyday things (other dogs, people, sounds, textures) aren’t going to hurt them.
Confident, well-socialized dogs are calm, easy to train and free of aggression, fear and frustration.
What is Puppy Culture?
Puppy Culture is a written protocol for socializing puppies before they leave the litter at 8-12 weeks. Good breeders will use this protocol, even though it requires a LOT of their time.
We talk a LOT about choosing ethical breeders, and this is one reason why!
Quality breeders socialize puppies a lot before they go home with you. This helps keep dogs OUT of rescues and shelters, and helps to make sure that the dog you welcome into the family is positive, friendly and free of aggression.
What is Involved in Puppy Culture?
Puppy Culture goes beyond exposure to grass, tile, and other dogs.
To give you an example of a non-Puppy Culture (but standard) approach, some breeders will allow their puppies to play in the grass outside and be exposed to children or farm animals. They will keep the puppies in an enclosed space and let them poop or pee at will. These breeders may attempt to trim their nails, but will do little else to expose the puppies to handling, experiences, or otherwise.
Puppy Culture breeders, however, will:
Handle the puppies all over, often, and may even employ ENS (a form of early stress that has been shown in studies to increase resilience)
Introduce teeth cleaning, exams, and nail trims early on and often
Introduce crates and early hygienic potty habits
Create times where each puppy is alone and away from the litter
Expose the litter to everyday sounds in the home, including vacuums, hammers, and hair dryers
Work on their engagement with humans and desire to stay close and recall
Use positive methods to work on bite control/puppy biting and prevent resource guarding type behaviors
Create safe obstacles for the puppies to overcome, such as ramps, tires, beams and wobble boards
Have the puppy touch and explore as many surfaces as possible with their paws and nose
Invite puppy lovers over to play with the puppies several weeks before they go to their new homes
Breeders who utilize all Puppy Culture protocols are dedicating a significant amount of time, effort, and love to doing so and the results are incredible!
Pro Tip: When choosing a breeder for your Great Dane puppy, please note that some breeders are relying on buzz words such as “Puppy Culture” and “OFA Health Tested” to generate sales.
However, they are not fully participating in these programs and many of them cut corners. Make sure to ask a lot of questions! Ask for verification of their socialization efforts AND the full health test results (heart, hips, eyes, thyroid which should be published at www.ofa.org)of both parents.
Socialization of Fearful Great Dane Puppies
Fearful or unsure puppies will keep their bodies low to the ground. They may pin their ears back, tuck their tail, and keep their head shrugged or hung low. Additionally, they will shy away from eye contact. When being handled, they may cower, act ‘head shy’ or roll onto their side or back.
Fearful puppies should be socialized as early as possible. Unfortunately, fearful behavior is often the result of unstable genetics, and many fearful Great Danes are plagued with a combination of bad genetics and poor early socialization.
Socialization does not mean forcing your fearful Great Dane puppy to interact with other dogs or humans in situations that they could get hurt- like dog parks.
Socialization of Great Dane puppies means that you are exposing them to new situations and allowing them to learn that these situations are not actually scary.
For fearful puppies, this means going slowly and building confidence through positive experiences.
Socialization of Puppies Who Are Confident
Confident puppies will have their heads up and their ears forward. They are more likely to make eye contact and truly engage with people. They will be interested in tackling obstacles and will have plenty of energy to do just that!
When they are raised with Puppy Culture, they are especially good at maintaining focus and even sitting as a form of ‘please’.
Confident puppies often need more obedience training to prevent them from wandering off out of curiosity for something in the environment. They are often very receptive to positive reinforcement, and love to be trained, too!
The good news is that Puppy Culture satisfies their curiosity and confidence, while rewarding them for engaging with humans and responding to requests to come back and look for direction.
Why Does Puppy Socialization Matter?
Puppies from healthy, well-tempered parents that are properly socialized from birth are more likely to be confident, curious and calm family pets.
For giant breed dogs, this translates to them being easier to live with, easier to handle, and safer around other dogs, people, and situations of all kinds.
Fear and aggression are considered one of the top three risk factors for bloat in Great Danes!
For health reasons, helping Great Dane puppies grow into confident and resilient adults is also incredibly important! Many dogs who experience bloat are fearful, timid, and aggressive.
Installing confidence and a calm indifference to the environment makes training a breeze, too! Dogs that are over-stimulated or anxious about the environment around them will have a much harder time learning and focusing.
A lot of aggression and reactivity is based in fear. The world can be an overwhelming place!
Great Danes are prone to anxiety and aloof, timid, or even aggressive behaviors. But none of that is actually within the written breed standard, and none of it has to be a reality.
Socialize Your Great Dane Puppy
Even if your puppy didn’t come from a breeder that spent a lot of time on socialization or Puppy Culture, there are LOTS of things you can do!
Expose your puppy to a variety of textures; wood chips, sand, blankets, tile, gravel, grass, cement and bridges.
Give them obstacles such as tunnels, ramps, platforms and FIT Paws, then encourage and reward them for being confident and exploring!
Expose them to a variety of people wearing glasses, hats, masks and walking with strollers, bicycles, wheelchairs, canes, walking sticks, snowshoes and skis. Instead of asking those people to pet your puppy, just sit and watch them from afar.
Explore novel environments and encourage curiosity.
What is a backyard breeder? Why is is so important to be educated about unethical breeding practices? How do we save puppies from backyard breeders?
There are many questions to ask when it comes to unethical breeding and backyard breeders. These practices are harming the breed we love and causing heartache and headaches for rescues and families.
You might be surprised to find that the AKC is riddled with backyard breeders. Having AKC registration is not a sign that the puppy is healthy, well-bred, or even pure-bred!
Yeah, we’re going to go there. If you are looking for a Great Dane puppy, this post is for you.
What Is A Backyard Breeder?
Many people believe that all home breeders are backyard breeders (because they ‘breed dogs in their backyard’).
This is actually a matter of nuance in language. The term “backyard breeder” has a very broad meaning.
A “backyard breeder” refers to any individual who breeds puppies without committing to the necessary measures for ensuring the full health testing, structure, temperament, breed standards, and overall well-being of the puppies throughout their lives, regardless of where they end up.
There are MANY friendly, nice “backyard breeders” who claim to health test their puppies.
They may even raise them indoors around kids and farm animals. It’s likely they even have a website and are recommended by others who are looking to purchase a Great Dane puppy.
But they are cutting corners somewhere, and THAT is what makes them a backyard breeder!
It doesn’t matter how clean the facility is, or how nice the breeder is.
Make no mistake, if they are breeding out of standard dogs, dogs with poor structure and temperaments, breeding dogs without FULL OFA health testing (see HERE), and not supporting those puppies for life, they are a backyard breeder.
Like we said above, the AKC has thousands of them.
Backyard breeders are more common than puppy mills, but despite their ‘friendly’ exterior they do a LOT more damage.
What is the AKC?
AKC is one of the most recognizable acronyms in the dog world.
They document pedigrees by giving breeders a place register their purebred litters. They also offer a range of services from dog shows & conformation to sports, advocacy and training certifications.
The word ‘papers’ is now actually relatively meaningless because of this. AKC registrations are a wonderful way to document and see the pedigree (lineage) of a dog. They are important, but they aren’t everything.
AKC papers do NOTHING to monitor if the dogs who have ‘purebred’ registrations even meet the standard for the breed they claim to be. This is how we’ve ended up with millions of Great Danes whose structure is so poor they suffer from orthopedic disorders. Their eyes are so droopy they need surgery to correct it. Their heads so big and jowls so droopy they look more like Mastiffs than Great Danes.
Not to mention the litany of health and temperament issues that come from breeders who are pairing dogs just because they happen to be ‘purebred’.
Technically, Only Purebred Dogs Can Be AKC Registered
Mixed breed dogs and dogs with unknown lineage cannot be registered with the AKC.
If a breeder is trying to sell you a ‘Danoodle’ or ‘Labradane’ with ‘papers’, know that the papers are probably from a made-up or low quality dog registry.
The AKC does try to maintain standards and educate breeders and buyers. However, having AKC papers is NOT enough to prove the quality of a genetic line or dogs against the written standard.
Remember the game ‘telephone’?
You sit in a circle with your friends. The first person whispers a phrase to the next person, who then takes that phrase and whispers it to the person next to them. The phrase makes its way around the circle.
The phrase may have begun as ‘I like to eat cake’ , but always ends with something completely different and usually funny. ‘I think you are fake’ for example.
The practice of breeding a Great Dane simply because it has ‘AKC Papers’ can create entire lines of registered, purebred Great Danes that look very little like Great Danes. Just like the game of telephone that we played as children!
Purebred Does Not Mean Well Bred
Of course, we are major dog and breed snobs over here, but even as a not-snobby pet owner you should care deeply about this breed.
Poorly bred dogs are more likely to suffer from health problems, including painful, frustrating and expensive conditions such as allergies, hip dysplasia, cardiac disease, aggression, fear, blindness/deafness and autoimmune disorders.
There are many purebred Great Danes suffering from health conditions that are largely preventable with selective breeding, including poor hips, bloat, heart disease, entropion, and more.
These disorders shorten the life span of Great Danes and contribute to the unfortunate reality that these giant dogs are both short lived and fragile.
So, How Can I Avoid Backyard Breeders?
In no way are we saying that imperfect Great Danes don’t deserve a home, or that your imperfect Dane isn’t good enough. (Truth! Ask me about my dainty three-legged Dane! I love the underdogs).
What we are saying, however, is that AKC papers can mean surprisingly little in the world of ethical breeding practices.
AKC Papers do not mean that a dog was bred with health and structure and temperament in mind.
They do not mean that a Great Dane exemplifies the appropriate health and structure of the breed.
Having AKC registrations is not a sign that a dog is of sound breeding quality and should be bred.
It is important to find Great Dane breeders who are:
Stop buying dogs from backyard breeders! Every time you support a breeder who doesn’t care about structure, health and temperament you support an industry that is creating thousands of dogs who eventually end up euthanized or in rescue.
